CHAPTER I

That handsome young member of the brigade of midshipmen
at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis was
now in mufti, or cits,—­meaning, in other
words, that he was out of his Naval uniform and attired
in the conventional clothing of a young American when
calling on his sweetheart.

It will make the situation even clearer to the reader
to explain that Dave was back in the home town, on
his September leave, after just having completed his
second summer practice cruise with the three upper
classes from Annapolis.

Dave was now a fine looking and “husky”
second classman. He was just a shade more than
half way through his course of instruction at Annapolis.

Being back in the home town, where would Midshipman
Darrin be more naturally found than in the parlor
at the home of his sweetheart, Miss Belle Meade?

The first greetings had been exchanged fifteen minutes
before.

Since that time the young people, being sweethearts
as they were, had naturally talked about themselves.

And Dave, who, in the Naval service, was fast learning
to become a good listener, had been content to have
Belle do most of the talking, while he sat back watching
the motions of her pretty lips and catching glimpses
of two rows of pearly teeth.

But now Belle had just mentioned two of Dave’s
former High School chums.